Safe path night light

ABSTRACT

A sensor causes a string of lights, for example, those sold under the trademark LIGHT ROPE® for assisting persons to walk in a darkened room to avoid accidents. The system incorporates a motion detector (with or without time delay to keep lights ON) and a string of lights, for example, those sold under the trademark LIGHT ROPE®. The lights are laid out along a path in the home.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority based on U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/416,947, filed Oct. 8, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is a system for assisting persons to walkin a darkened room to avoid accidents. The system incorporates a motiondetector (with or without time delay to keep lights ON) and a string oflights, for example, those sold under the mark LIGHT ROPE®. The lightsare laid out along a path in the home.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] The prior art discloses various structures for illuminating aperson's pathway.

[0006] Woodman, U.S. Pat. No. 934,122 discloses wooden steps with lightsactuated by a person stepping on each landing.

[0007] Donahue, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,601 is similar to Woodman in usingpressure sensitive switches on stairs to illuminate lights on eachlanding.

[0008] Kirk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,993, shows an illuminating mat to beplaced on the floor. The lights go ON by pressure sensitive switches.

[0009] Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,950, is similar in concept butdifferent in structure from the invention. Johnson actuates a timednight-light from a pressure sensitive switch mat.

[0010] Ness, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,872, shows motion detectorsincorporated in individual path lights.

[0011] Nishihira et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,640 disclose an electroniclighting control in a room occupancy sensor system.

[0012] Shaefer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,647 teaches an indoor/outdoor nightlight which can be turned on by motion detection, ambient lightdetection or manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention assists persons to walk in darkened roomsthereby avoiding accidents. A motion detector which may incorporate adelay to maintain illumination for a predetermined time is connected toa string of small lights preferably having bulbs set into a plasticstrip such as sold under the trademark LIGHT ROPE®. The motion detectorturns on the lights to illuminate a path after sensing motion of aperson. This eliminates the need to illuminate the entire room and alsoeliminates the need for any action by the user to activate theillumination.

[0014] By way of example, a strip of lights may be fastened along thebaseboard of a room to provide lighting for a person to safely navigatefrom bed to bath A principal object and advantage of this invention isthe provision of a night light system, which illuminates a predeterminedpath.

[0015] Another object and advantage of this invention is the provisionof a night light system, which may be activated by a motion detector.

[0016] A still further object and advantage of the invention is theprovision of a night light system, which is illuminated for apredetermined time.

[0017] Another object and advantage of this invention is the provisionof a night light system, which provides illumination without the needfor any actions by a person other than moving within the range of amotion detector.

[0018] The foregoing, as well as further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reviewof the following detailed description of my invention, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] THE FIGURE is a perspective view of the system of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] THE FIGURE is a perspective view of the system of this invention.A person 22 is shown leaving bed 20. A motion detector 24 detects thatmotion. The detector 24 serves to turn ON and OFF a LIGHT ROPE® 28. Themotion detector 24 is directly plugged in to wall plug 26. The LIGHTROPE® 28 may be located along a wall or on the floor to illuminate andcreate a path.

[0021] It will be understood that an additional motion detector may beused to activate the lights. This additional motion detector may beattached to the other end of the light string so that both ends of thestring can illuminate it. Further, the components used may be thosesuitable for use indoors or outdoors. Similarly, light strings otherthan the LIGHT ROPE® may be employed and may be actuated by remotesensors.

[0022] Further modifications to the apparatus of the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention;accordingly, what is sought to be protected is set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A system for illuminating an area on the occurrence of apredetermined event comprising: a series of lights which are normallyOFF; sensor means connected to said series of lights for activating themon the occurrence of a predetermined event; and means connected to saidseries of lights and said sensor means for providing electrical energythereto.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined event ismotion in proximity to said sensor means.
 3. An illuminating systemcomprising: a series of lights mounted in an area to be illuminated;motion sensor means connected to said series of lights for illuminatingsaid series of lights on the occurrence of motion in proximity to saidsensor means; and electrical power means connected to said series oflights and said motion sensor means for providing electrical energythereto.
 4. A path lighting system comprising: a plurality of lightsconnected together to be located adjacent a path to be illuminated;sensor means connected to said lights for turning them ON upon theoccurrence of a predetermined event; and means connected to said lightsand said sensor means for providing electrical power thereto.